USDA will buy millions of dollars worth of meat to help livestock producers
Elkhorn, NE -- The 2012 Presidential candidates are focusing heavy attention on the drought. Monday, the Obama Administration said they'll spend 170-million dollars to buy meat from producers. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack met with Nebraska Farmers' Union on Friday. One Elkhorn farmer who was at that meeting said without federal help, the entire state will feel the effects of the drought.
This year's drought's hitting Bill Armbrust's cows hard. "The only way we can deal with this is to reduce our herd," said the rancher.
With little rain, his hay crop is a fraction of what it was forcing him to move his cattle to better pastures. Armbrust explained, "I'm trying to find a place for these cows to go instead so I can have my hay for my horse customers instead of my cows."
Armbrust is one of several Nebraska Farmers who met with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. The cattleman is pleased to see the government is listening. On Monday, President Obama announced, The federal government will help livestock producers by purchasing over 150-million dollars worth of meat right now while prices are low, we'll freeze it for later."
That meat will go to help food banks and other federal nutrition programs. Armbrust says the plan isn't only going to help ranchers but the entire state of Nebraska. Armbrust said, "The help the USDA is giving right now is just them chasing around nickles and dimes within their department. Whether it will actually have an impact well wait to see but what it does give is hope as farmers that there's somebody is caring."
Armbrust says the best solution for farmers and ranchers is for the senate to get on board and pass the Farm Bill.
Reported By: Liz Dorland, ldorland@action3news.com
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